How to Create a Web Design Mood Board: Tips and Tricks for Getting Started
*FREE MOOD BOARD TEMPLATE BELOW! ↓
When it's time to decide on the details of your Squarespace site, the vast array of options can seem overwhelming. And this is true whether you're creating your site from scratch, using a template, or working with a designer. There are so many colors, fonts, images, and styles to choose from!
A mood board is a great tool to inspire and get you out of your design rut. A mood board (sometimes called an inspiration board) is a collection of images, colors, and fonts that you can use to get a feel for your website's overall tone and style.
In this blog post, we'll discuss how to create a web design mood board for your Squarespace website, including:
The benefits of using a mood board
How to get started with your mood board
Tips and tricks for creating an effective mood board
Creating a mood board is a great way to narrow your design options and find inspiration for your website. Keep reading to learn how to get started!
Benefits of Using a Mood Board
So first, you might be wondering why it's worth taking the time to do a mood board.
A mood board can help you:
Get a feel for the overall tone and style of your website. You'll be able to see how the colors, fonts, and other elements work together and find out early in the process if you aren't a fan of them.
Narrow down your design options. As you see the elements together, you'll get a feel for what fits your brand.
Find inspiration for your website. By looking at what others have done, you'll see ideas that you may not have thought of, and that can inspire even more creativity.
Communicate your vision to others (like a web designer) more effectively. Have you ever tried explaining your idea to someone else? It can be rough! This is a great reason to create a mood board, and your designer will probably love you for doing it.
Creating a mood board is an excellent way to collect visual inspiration for your web design project. By curating images, colors, and fonts that appeal to you, you can narrow down your website's overall look and feel. It's also fun to take a break from the pressure and explore new ideas--especially those that might feel a little out of your design comfort zone.
How to Get Started
Now that we've discussed some benefits of using a mood board, let's talk about how to create one. Here are the basic steps:
Decide what your medium is. Will you go with an old-fashioned poster board with magazine tear-outs? How about a digital poster using Canva or Photoshop? Pinterest is also a fantastic option. Simply create a board on Pinterest and add your elements there (and easily share with your designer or add a collaborator!).
Gather inspiration. Look for images, colors, and fonts that draw you in. This can be anything from websites you love to Pinterest boards and magazine tear-outs. And it's okay if you start with a lot because the next step is…
...EDIT! Now that you've pulled together all the ideas you love, figure out a system to start narrowing your options down. If you're having trouble, start categorizing by color, mood, style, or something else that feels right. You can even pick an image to center your ideas around.
Create your board. Once you have a good collection of inspiration, it's time to start putting your mood board together. Whether you cut and glue, drag and drop, or Pin, there's nothing as satisfying as seeing your ideas come together.
Refine. While putting your mood board together, you may find that certain images or colors aren't working. Don't be afraid to make changes until you're happy with your board's overall look and feel.
Remember, there isn't a right or wrong way to create a mood board. The most important thing is that you end up with a collection of visuals that inspire you and help communicate your vision for the website.
Tips and Tricks
If you're new to creating mood boards, here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:
Start with a blank slate: It can be helpful to begin your mood board with a blank canvas (digital or physical). This way, you're not influenced by preexisting images or colors and can start fresh.
Stick to a color scheme: When choosing images and fonts for your mood board, try to use a limited color palette. This will help create a cohesive look and feel. Use a website like coolors.co or choose an image with a color scheme you love if you need ideas.
Use fonts and colors sparingly: It's tempting to want to use all of the fonts and colors that you love on your mood board. But less is often more when it comes to web design. Try to limit yourself to one or two fonts and a handful of colors.
Keep it simple: As you create your mood board, resist the urge to overthink things. The goal is to have fun and explore new ideas. So go with your gut and don't overthink it!
Creating a Squarespace design mood board is a great way to get inspired and start putting together the pieces of your website. By following these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to putting together a board that reflects your vision and gets you excited about your project.
If you're wondering what to do once you've got your mood board, it's a great time to book a call with me! You can tell me all about you, your business, and your website needs, and I can fill you in on my custom website builds for Squarespace and my customizable Squarespace templates to help you find the right fit for your business.
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♡ Alex E.
